Foreign Affiliates Win Unconditioned Access to HIV/AIDS Funds

Foreign affiliates of U.S. health groups that fight HIV and AIDS abroad don’t have to adopt policies explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking to receive federal funding for their efforts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit said Dec. 19.

The U.S. Agency for International Development violated the free speech rights of domestic groups by insisting their foreign affiliates adopt the policy before being allowed to receive funds under the U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act, the court aid.

The federal law authorizes billions of dollars in appropriations to nongovernmental groups to fight HIV, AIDS and ...